Michael Bailey

I am 23-year-old kid who used to love drugs and sex more than Jesus. I feel like I have about as much business being a LifeGroups Director as Lebron James does a stock car driver. But, by God’s grace, I get to serve in this capacity with Midtown Fellowship in Columbia, South Carolina. At Midtown, I get to work with a phenomenal team towards the spiritual development and care of a network of around 40 LifeGroups.

I live in a 3 bed/1 bath home with four other guys. It always keeps my life interesting.

The way to my heart passes through a hot cup of coffee and a plane ticket to anywhere. 

Interview with Editor of SGX:

When did you decide to serve in Small Group Ministry? I have been serving in small group ministry since college where I helped to start a network of small groups through the campus. Currently, I serve as the LifeGroups Director for Midtown Fellowship where I oversee our small group ministry.

What encouragement would you offer to small group leaders out there? Relational ministry is never easy and very often painful, but remember the Gospel makes it all worth it.

In what ways have you and your spouse/family grown spiritually since you have been involved in this ministry? When I first began working with small groups (training leaders, organizing groups, etc), I had a gigantic tendency to rely on my own strength and ability to accomplish everything. However, through the years, God has taught me that the work really depends on Him. If I want to see people grow towards Christ, yes, I can do some things, but in the end it’s God who is doing the real transformational work. The most important work I can actually do is pray. Pray a whole lot!

Why does small group ministry play such a critical role in the church today? Small group ministry plays such a crucial role in the church because it lies at the very heart of what the church is. Small groups are where discipleship and authentic community of believers exists.